With a public holiday having been declared for Friday in honour of the team, Tauamolo flew into Nuku'alofa at 2.45am Thursday along with former captain Sika Manu and team-mates Will Hopoate, Ata Hingano, John Asiata, Tesi Niu and Kotoni Staggs, who met his father for the first time.
Other players, including Andrew Fifita, Konrad Hurrell and Siliva Havili, have also arrived and each have received a hero's welcome after the Tonga Invitational XIII confirmed the Pacific nation would be genuine contenders for the 2021 World Cup by beating the game's two top international teams.
